Lil Wayne Becomes a BMI Icon at The 2023 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
At the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, Lil Wayne will be presented with the BMI icon award, the organisation’s greatest honour. The exclusive event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO, Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton. It will take place at Miami Beach’s LIV Nightclub. The occasion will also commemorate hip-hop’s 50th birthday.
“As a legend and superstar of hip-hop, Lil Wayne is synonymous with the genre,” Brewton stated in a statement. “He’s been part of the BMI family since 2002, and we’re proud to name him a BMI Icon in keeping with his reputation as one of the most influential artists of all time. We’re also excited to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a celebration that reflects the genre’s legacy, which has infiltrated entertainment, fashion, sports and much more.”
Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, James Brown and Busta Rhymes are just a few artists that have won the BMI Icon award in the past.
The 35 R&B/hip-hop tracks from BMI’s catalogue with the highest U.S. performance rates during the previous year will also be honoured. There will also be an award for the BMI R&B/hip-hop song, songwriter, producer and publisher of the Year.
Lil Wayne has compiled five No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, including ‘Funeral’ (2020), ‘I Am Not a Human Being’ (2010), and the third, fourth, and fifth entries in his ‘Tha Carter’ franchise. He has three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including ‘Lollipop’ (with Static Major) and appearances on Jay Sean’s ‘Down’ and DJ Khaled’s ‘I’m the One.’
In 2009, the rapper won four Grammys, including best rap song for ‘Lollipop’ and best rap album for ‘Tha Carter III’. In 2017 he received his fifth Grammy for best rap performance for his work on Chance the Rapper’s ‘No Problem.’ Additionally, he most recently won The Recording Academy Honours Presented by The Black Music Collective’s worldwide impact award.
In addition to being voted R&B/hip-hop songwriter of the year in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013, Wayne has won 52 BMI Awards. At the 2009 BMI London Awards, he also won college song of the year for ‘Down.’ He has won 11 BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, four Soul Train Awards, fifteen BET Hip-Hop Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards.
Wayne also owns and runs Young Money Entertainment, a business that launched the careers of musicians like Nicki Minaj and Drake. The philanthropist also established The One Family Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to aiding underprivileged children.
– Riya Sohini
